Goblin Sushi

I went into Goblin Sushi expecting a goofy time-management game and came out with toothpaste-for-brains-level obsession. Made by Old Cake Factory, it mashes sushi-making with roguelike unlocks and a wonderfully silly goblin world that somehow makes slugs and caterpillars look appetizing. If you liked Plate Up or Balatro's loop, you'll spot the same addictive rhythm here — but coated in grime, poop platters and a landlord who scares you into efficiency. It’s fast, occasionally cruel, and somehow deeply satisfying when a run clicks.

Rolling Under Pressure

The core gameplay is gloriously frantic: you roll sushi with a grid-ish mat, combine weird cave ingredients like caterpillars, slugs and chicken heads, and race against an inflationary rent clock that forces you to optimize. A typical run feels like a twenty-minute frenzy where I shuffle between prep, rolling, and serving while juggling customer moods. Controls are tight and keyboard shortcuts make the flow addictive — once I found a comfortable hotkey setup I could chain combos like a deranged conveyor belt chef. Failing a recipe usually yields hilariously ugly outcomes (yes, poop platters) and a chorus of goblin grunts that somehow cheered me up more than a high score.

Goblin Tricks and Kitchen Gadgets

What sets Goblin Sushi apart are the build-changing upgrades and the surprising depth in ingredient placement. The order and layout on the rolling mat affect modifiers, so a single rearrange can turn a flailing run into a steamroller of profit. Augments and upgrades — from turbo rice cookers to menu synergies — feel meaningful and often open wildly different strategies. I’ve had runs where I focus on fire rolls and speed, and others where combo multipliers turn trash ingredients into gold. The game’s Twitch integration and community-minded chaos also add replayability: chat can help or hinder, which made several streams I watched hilariously unpredictable.

Grime That Looks Gorgeous

Visually, Goblin Sushi is a love letter to cute-gross aesthetics: chunky 2D sprites, expressive goblins, and little visual gags everywhere. Sound design is unexpectedly satisfying — slurps, rolls and tiny goblin “nom” noises punctuate the chaos and help time actions without staring at timers. Performance has been solid for me on Windows and Linux, and the UI scales well so the frantic center-screen mat is always readable. Accessibility options are basic but present; I’d like more assist modes later, but the game already does a good job of letting me tweak input to avoid true carpal-tunnel panic.

Progression That Feels Earned

Runs feed into a meta-progression of unlocks: new recipes, augments and restaurant locations that change the possibilities. The rent mechanic is an excellent tension device — it forces choices and sometimes makes me laugh and cry at the same time. There’s genuine pleasure in finding a new run-defining combo and watching the numbers climb on the sales board. While the content at launch leans Early Access, the base systems are polished enough that every run feels like progress, not filler. If the devs expand maps and modes as planned, this has the bones to become a long-term favorite.

Goblin Sushi is a delightful, slightly gross take on the roguelike cooking formula that already hooks you with smart systems and charming presentation. It's ideal for players who love frantic time-management, experimentation and short, rewarding runs — just maybe keep wrist stretches nearby. If you enjoy Plate Up or Balatro's loops and want something a bit filthier and funnier, give Goblin Sushi a shot.